Wednesday, May 23, 2012

In Which a Local Journalist Helps Solve a Historical Mystery

Did Tom T. Hall write a song here?

Last week my Digital Storytelling class was playing around with making short films from animated still images. I threw a bunch of historic pictures of Spokane together and looked for a song to put in the background. The choice was obvious--Tom T. Hall's classic Spokane Motel Blues.

Hall wrote the song in 1973 when a blizzard left him stuck in Spokane. It is by far the best-known song ever to have Spokane in its title. Alas, it is no paean to our city:

I don't know what I'm doing here, I could be someplace elseLike in Atlanta drinkin' wine, wine, wineI don't know what I'm doing here, I should be someplace elseLike in Kentucky drinkin' 'shine, 'shine, 'shineThe dogs are running down in MemphisAnd them nags are running in LAI'm stuck in Spokane in a motel roomAnd there ain't no way to get away

It is a great song, an early example of the outlaw country movement, funny and irreverent. Most of the students had never heard it, so I found a YouTube video. As we were listening it occurred to me--what a great stop for Spokane Historical! We just needed to figure out what motel Hall was staying in when he penned the song.

A quick Google revealed--nothing. As did a more thorough search. I was going to have to turn to that dependable resource of local historians--the town know-it-all. And I knew just who to ask.

I emailed my favorite reporter at our local paper, Doug Clark of the Spokesman Review. For decades Clark has penned a regular column in which he mocks local politicians, highlights our town's eccentrics. and chronicles his own misadventures. He is a local landmark on par with Riverfront Park--before it was cleaned up. If anyone in town would know the motel in question, it would be Clark.

Or not. Clark called the next morning and we had a terrific conversation that ranged from our mutual alma mater of EWU, to the mayor, to popular music. Doug Clark is lot of fun to talk to--but he did not know the motel in question. So he decided to write a column and appeal to his readers: Professor’s ‘Motel’ mystery needs you to solve it. Thanks, Doug!

I am confident that someone in Spokane knows the answer and I will let you know. In the meantime, enjoy this cover of Spokane Motel Blues by Jeff Cooper:

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My name is Larry Cebula and this is my professional blog. I am a Public Historian at Eastern Washington University and Assistant Digital Archivist at the Washington State Digital Archives--neither of which necessarily endorse the views here! I use this blog to explore the intersections of public and digital history. The focus is on the Inland Northwest but we may venture further afield on occasion. Here is my mission statement. Email me at LarryCebula [at] gmail [dot] com.